8th ANNUAL
CANOE INVITATIONAL 2002

Sponsored in part by G-WeBconnect
and AXE Enterprises

March 31st Update:

Plans for this year's Canoe Invitational 2002 are shaping up well. In all likelihood, the ice on Long Lake will be out. We expect zero to a-few black flies. Jim and Gary will be cooking both dinners. Unless otherwise arranged, participants should bring food for their own breakfasts, lunches, canoeing drinks/snacks, and snacks/drinks for after dinner. Jim and Gary will bring all necessary cookware for folks to use for breakfasts (e.g., frying pans, stove, etc.). If you have cookware needs, check with them to see if they'll have it along.

Although our canoe party is supposed to be limited to 12 individuals, and I'm supposed to secure a permit for a party this large... I've yet to be able to reach the designated ranger for this area. I'm not concerned if we go over the magic 12.

At this time, here are this year's confirmed participants:

Gary and Jim M.
Warren and Joe
Ed and friend
Jim H. and George
Jay and friend

Joe Gone Fishing Lopez (Unconfirmed)
Guide Boat Randy (Gone fishing?)
Margaritaville Tim and The Other Jim (Perhaps picking up the route at Axton on Sat.)

Gear News :

AXE and "g" are taking radically different approaches to packing gear. AXE will pack as ultra-light as possible; "g" will pack for comfort. Here's the deal. On day-one, at the end of a 15 mile paddle, there will be a 1.25 mile carry. That's a hike. It will be some up and then down.

"g" intends to bring his ice chest with wheels; AXE will bring his canoe wheels. "g" will bring plenty of dry, warm clothes (like his down winter jacket; AXE will bring only a pair of shorts. (Get the picture?)

The 1.25 mile carry will be very doable, but be prepared. For example, "g" will sport his very large EMS 550 back pack, and line the inside with a 55 HD dry bag to keep essentials dry. On the carry, he and AXE will pull their canoe with the aide of canoe wheels and carry some gear in packs on their backs. It might take 2 trips...

Gear to consider as community gear:

Coleman Stove (2-burner) w/ fuel
Cookware
Community dinners
Lanterns w/ fuel
Tarps and rope (Poles?)
Don't forget a black nylon bag and 100+ feet of rope to hang your individual food.

Check out the gear link on the previous page.

Traveling Together in Cars:

It will be very helpful to have one more car then we actually need to transport canoes. Once we unload our gear and canoes at Long Lake, we should shuttle all canoe-carrying-cars up to Tupper and leave them there for the return trip. We'd then take one car back and leave it at the Long Lake boat launch.

Misc. Questions and Confirmation of Participants:

Let me know Gary LaBella if you have any questions or comments about the trip. If you're stuck without a canoe partner, want to go but are yet to officially sign on, etc., drop me a line.

 

THERE'S MUCH MORE TO COME...
so keep your compass pointed to G-WeBconnect for the next update!